The Extra Mile News
After a long illness with leukemia our beloved Cutie died March 30 of leukemia. She was a real trooper all through the 8 months of overnight stays in the hospital continuous vet visits and lots of antibiotics. She last worked in February helping Chaplain Ralph with chapel at Faith Lutheran Whittier. The children were so glad to see her even though she had lost some hair. Thanks Faith for your prayers and love for her. We want to thank everyone for your love and support during this painful time. Cutie truly blessed many people throughout the country as she responded to disasters in Florida, and California. She worked with Parents of Murdered children support groups and also went to Washington D.C. to help with TAPS a military family survivor of war death support group.
Her numerous visits to schools for chapel talks were always well received. She was a friend and showed us all something about Unconditional Love.
Georgie and Chaplain Ralph attend TAPS Survivor Seminar.
TAPS For the second year in a row, Chaplain Ralph and K9 Chaplain attended the grief support seminar for families surviving the loss of their military love ones. Chaplain taught a class on “coping and faith”. K9 Georgie was a tremendous spirit lifter to the 125 children and 300 adults in attendance. One survivor said this of our time there, “ I simply wanted to say “thank you” for allowing me to be in Georgia’s presence. She is absolutely adorable and did me a lot of good. Please tell her I appreciated her a great deal in providing me a sense of tranquility during my stay in Crystal City. By her allowing me to pet her, she brought a sense of comfort and peace to my heart and for that I am truly blessed.”
Katrina Update
The Extra Mile Disaster response team has spent the last ten months in Biloxi and Gulfport ministering to the victims of Katrina. Much of the work has included ministry with the volunteers coming from around America staying at Camp Biloxi Good Shepherd. While there the Extra Mile conducts training in compassion fatigue, survivor guilt and vicarious trauma issues. We pray that our team can continue to work with the much-needed spiritual and emotional recovery issues that face the Gulf Coast. It is our prayer that funding will come through to help our needs.
Praise God
The Extra Mile Ministries has found a new friend. Lutheran Charities of Illinois. has made a commitment to network with and support the vision and ministry of the Extra Mile. This special organization seeks to find ways to increase and support ministry. They have donated a Motor Home so the Extra Mile can have a home base and office as we work in and around the Gulf Coast.
Lutherans in Medical Missions also has networked with the Extra Mile providing a grant of $5,000 to keep our teams out in the Katrina areas. We look forward to continued support from this great ministry.
FEMA - Good Samaritans Lend Helping Hand…And Paw
Release Date: April 25, 2006
Making A Difference - Lutheran Church Charities
12_Dec05_Medical-Mission1Lutheran Church Charities The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - From Bobbi Lautenschlager of Lutherans in Medical Missions |
